The Republic of Ireland international arrived from Aston Villa on an
emergency loan deal and should start in goal after Jason Steele received
a three-match ban following his red card at Leeds last week.
Boro manager Aitor Karanka will check on the fitness of Seb Hines
ahead of his first home game in charge after the centre-back failed to
recover from a hamstring injury last time out.
Having made a losing start to his career in England at Elland Road,
the Spanish boss will be hoping to end a run of three winless games for
Boro in the Sky Bet Championship.
Joe Mason, meanwhile, could make his Bolton debut after arriving on loan again this week.
The 22-year-old forward should finally get the chance to pull on a
Wanderers shirt after originally joining earlier this month only for
parent club Cardiff to recall him less than 24 hours later.

Middlesbrough
• Aitor Karanka began his managerial career at
Middlesbrough with a 2-1 away defeat to Leeds, but his new outfit still
have a seven-match undefeated home league record to defend.
• 'Boro have won two and drawn five at the Riverside
since their only home league defeat to Leicester in the opening fixture,
and are the top home scorers in the second tier, with 17 goals from
eight matches.
• The Teesside club have conceded as many as five league goals from the penalty spot.
Bolton Wanderers
• The Trotters, who went into the last week in
September at the bottom of the table, have won their last three, are
unbeaten in eight, and sit at the top of the Championship's "Current
Form" table, with 14 points out of 18.
• Dougie Freedman's men are also pursuing a fourth
consecutive away league victory, having returned from Birmingham,
Bournemouth and Watford with maximum points on their last three trips.
• Forward Craig Davies, who's without a goal in his
last eight Bolton appearances, could play in an English league match for
the 300th time, while midfielder Neil Danns is poised to make the 350th
appearance of his 10-club career.